Cayenne pepper will add color to your dishes and bring its spicy and exotic flavor, especially in your sauces or mashed potatoes. It has a slightly fruity aroma. Its flavors are powerful and spicy. Its smoky aroma and spicy taste will enhance your dishes and sauces. Its spiciness level is 8/10 (very hot) on the Scoville scale. It is much spicier than, for example, Espelette pepper, which is considered hot (4/10).
Cayenne Pepper and Its Botanical Background
How Does Cayenne Pepper Grow?
Cayenne pepper, whose botanical name is Capsicum frutscens, belongs to the Solanaceae family. It is cultivated all year round and is reddish-orange when it reaches maturity. Cayenne pepper can be consumed in powder form or whole.
What is the Origin of Cayenne Pepper?
Cayenne pepper is native to the Andes, a mountainous region of South and Central America. However, as its name suggests, Cayenne pepper is named after the capital of French Guiana, where it was discovered. It is now grown in many regions around the world, including India, Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean.
The History of Cayenne Pepper
According to archaeologists, Cayenne pepper seems to have been used for its medicinal properties for a long time, particularly by the Maya and Aztecs. However, it wasn't until the 16th century that Cayenne pepper was discovered and imported to Europe by the Spanish. Nowadays, its use has gone far beyond borders and become international. Indeed, it is now one of the most well-known and widely produced peppers in the world.
